Artists Return to Brisbane Portrait Prize After AI Boycott, Pitting 'Ancestral Integrity' Against AI
Following a two-year boycott of the Brisbane Portrait Prize (BPP) due to the inclusion of AI-generated artwork, several artists have decided to participate again. Among them are Wiradjuri artist Birrunga and five First Nations artists from his gallery in Queensland. The BPP, which began accepting AI submissions in 2024, features a $50,000 Lord Mayor's prize, leading to protests from past winners like Russell Shakespeare. Birrunga, who previously criticized AI art as "not art," has submitted self-portraits that focus on "ancestral integrity." Finalists include Kane Brunjes and Elysia Love-Anderson, who contend that AI lacks genuine authenticity. Photographer Glenn Hunt, a winner in 2020, also returned with a portrait of Dean Clifford. BPP director Anna Reynolds confirmed that AI works must not violate copyright. Winners will be revealed on Friday, with the exhibition debuting on Saturday.
Key facts
- The Brisbane portrait prize (BPP) opened its doors to AI-generated art in 2024, including the main Lord Mayor's prize worth $50,000.
- Wiradjuri artist Birrunga boycotted the BPP in 2024 and again last year, along with artists from his Queensland gallery.
- Birrunga and five First Nations artists his gallery represents re-entered this year, pitting "AI against AI" with self-portraits about "ancestral integrity."
- Finalists include Kane Brunjes' Ancestral Integrity and Elysia Love-Anderson's Reflections.
- Photographer Glenn Hunt, who won the digital prize in 2020 and led the 2024 boycott, is a finalist with a portrait of Dean Clifford, who lives with epidermolysis bullosa.
- BPP director Anna Reynolds says the prize only accepts generative AI works that do not infringe copyright.
- Of the 49 works in the main competition, Jackie Ryan's The Catch is the only one to declare generative AI use.
- Winners are announced Friday night, and the exhibition opens to the public on Saturday.
Entities
Artists
- Birrunga
- Jackie Ryan
- Alice Fraser
- Archie Moore
- Russell Shakespeare
- Elysia Love-Anderson
- Kane Brunjes
- Glenn Hunt
- Dean Clifford
- Anna Reynolds
Institutions
- Birrunga Gallery
- Brisbane portrait prize
- Krea
- Meta AI
- The Guardian
- Venice Biennale
Locations
- Queensland
- Australia
- Brisbane
- Venice
- Italy